DIY Cedar Planter Box

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Do you need some budget friendly yet beautiful planters? Try this DIY cedar planter box. So easy to build a novice woodworker can get the job done!

Not only are these cedar fence boards easy to turn into this DIY cedar planter box but you can create custom sizes. They are also inexpensive so you can build many on a tight budget.  The ones I built are now over 5 years old and still in fantastic condition.  These really hold up to the elements!

Even though lumber is still expensive these are made from cedar dog-eared fence boards which, comparatively, are inexpensive.

DIY fence board planters, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com

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These have straight cuts and are either nailed or screwed together so even the most novice of woodworkers can easily build these.

DIY Cedar Planter Box material

Start with 6-inch wide cedar fence boards, they come in 6 foot lengths. (remember lumber does not come true to size, meaning boards called 6 inches wide are usually 5 inches and a fraction)

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You may be able to find the 8 inch wide but I have had a tough time finding them lately. I had used the 8 inch wide for the bottom of this window box but you can use the 6.

These are the sizes available here where I live, they may differ in your neck of the woods.

Square Off ends

Cut off the dog-eared ends to make them straight across. Measure each board after cutting on the dog ears to make sure they are the same size. These fence boards are rough cut and don’t always match up.

You want to make them the same length.

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Dry fit your boards to make sure everything will line up.

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Cut an end piece from a scrap of the fence boards. When you place the end on make sure the grain of the wood is running horizontally. If it is running vertically it will split.

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Run a good bead of Titebond or Elmers External wood glue along the edges before nailing or screwing together.

To see another DIY box build, check out a smaller version of this by clicking the button below!

easy diy

Build this Rustic Box

This is a smaller version of the window box planters but it is so versatile. Use it for more than planting!

Align each side with the bottom and nail or screw into place. If you decided to use screw, pre-drill the holes to prevent splitting the wood.

Mine sit on the back deck rail and I screwed them down so the raccoons and other pesky critters would not knock them off.

DIY Cedar Planter Box Drainage

Drill holes along the bottom first to allow excess water to drain. I drilled along the back side of the boxes. If you want to raise them up so they do not sit directly on the deck rails you can cut small pieces of wood to sit the boxes on.

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The airflow will let the deck rails dry and therefore prevent rot.

You can paint or stain the finished window boxes or let them age naturally to a soft grey.

Fill the planters with good potting soil and plant up with your favorite flowers. Or you can use them as holders to plants in smaller pots.

make your own

DIY potting soil!

Do you use a lot of potting soil? Me too. To save money I make my own in bulk and you can too!

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Fill with your favorite flowers you started by Winter Sowing or Indoor Seed Starting!


Later in the summer, this is how it looks.  

DIY Cedar Fence board window box planters, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com


In the Fall I plant Violas in them, they last thru the winter snow and cold to put on their colorful show as soon as the weather gets a wee bit warmer!

DIY Fence Board Planters, window boxes, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com
DIY Planter boxes from Cedar Fence Boards, window planters, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com

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Back Door DIY Kitchen Herb Garden

Build this herb garden box and grow them right outside your back door! A simple DIY your going to love.

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3 Comments

  1. Thank you for the great instructions. I’m inspired to make a few of these, like you said much more affordable then store purchased. I’m really enjoying your gardening blog!

  2. That is a great idea. Now you have got my brain humming. 🙂

  3. One of the first projects I took on when I was younger was window boxes for our deck. They were so fun to fill with different flowers, some cascading down over the edge. My current home doesn’t have any railings or decking but you easy approach to these gorgeous wooden planters has me racking my brain on how I might incorporate them in my own home. Maybe I could make a smaller one and hang it from the porch with chains. Hmmmmmm

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